New Episode of ‘Backroads of Montana’ Set to Air on MontanaPBS

May 13, 2019

MISSOULA – A new episode of the awarding-winning travelogue “Backroads of Montana” will premiere at 8 p.m. Monday, May 20, on MontanaPBS.

“We head to some real out-of-the-way spots on this program,’” host and Montana native William Marcus said of this episode, titled “Rumors and Ringers.” “Viewers should really enjoy the trek across the state.”

Avon’s Jack Price and friends keep the sport of horseshoe pitching alive in Montana. He’s added horseshoe pits inside his garage so the competitions can continue during the winter months. And there’s a former friend and world champion that is always on their minds.

Gallup City, the dream of former Montana Gov. Hugo Aronson, once boasted a hotel, a dance hall and a grocery store – all riding above an underground ocean of oil. Today, only prairie dogs and pheasants notice the hand-hewn wooden sign that marks its location in Pondera County.

An iconic black goat once roamed the steep cliffs near De Borgia on the west end of Mineral County. For more than a decade, locals nicknamed him Stinky and watched for him every time they drove past McGee Point.

Travel to West Yellowstone to meet participants and volunteers in Montana’s Ski for Light program. The event enables visually impaired participants to experience Montana’s great outdoors. Follow two legally blind skiers from Bozeman and Lewistown as they take in the sensations of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

The Missoula Smokejumper Base, the largest in the country, trains about 75 men and women firefighters each year to quickly reach and attack fires in remote and roadless areas in the West. Marcus will take viewers on a tour of the facility.

“Backroads of Montana” is produced by Marcus, Gus Chambers, John Twiggs and Ray Ekness.

“Rumors and Ringers” will re-air at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23, at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 25, and at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, May 26.

MontanaPBS (KUFM-TV in Missoula, KUSM-TV in Bozeman, KUKL-TV in Kalispell, KBGS-TV in Billings, KUGF-TV in Great Falls and KUHM-TV in Helena) is a service of the University of Montana and Montana State University. For more information visit http://www.montanapbs.org.